Quincy Miller
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
After blowing out Canada Tuesday in the semifinals, the United States Under-18 National Team got all it could handle from Brazil in an 81-78 win Wednesday night, taking the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in San Antonio.
United States forward Quincy Miller, a 6-foot-9 rising senior regarded as the No. 9 2011 prospect, hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds that proved to be the game-winner.
"Well, coach just told me to shoot it, even though my last one was an air ball," said Miller, who will play for Westchester Academy (High Point, N.C.) next season and finished with 11 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. "Coach told me to shoot it, so I shot it. I had faith in myself and I made it."
The win sends the United States to the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia. It was the fifth gold medal in the event for the USA dating back to 1990.
"I was really proud of our guys with how we dealt with adversity," said USA and University of Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel. "It's the first time we have experienced it here and it knocked us back a little bit early.
"I thought we did a good job of getting off to a good start in the second half. Give them credit, that Brazil team they have been together and fought and they made plays."
Brazil led 63-58 going into the fourth period but the United States responded with a 16-5 run that gave it a four-point cushion heading into the final four minutes.
Future Duke Blue Devil Kyrie Irving led the United States with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Austin Rivers, who poured in 35 points against Canada in the semifinals, added 19. Marquette-bound guard Vander Blue contributed 13.
